Photo by Roberto Carlo
Saturday, September 16, 2023 • 7:10 PM
Citi Field • Flushing, New York
LHP Andrew Abbott (8-5, 3.64) vs. RHP Tylor Megill (8-7, 5.03)
SNY
The Mets offense couldn’t rally behind Pete Alonso’s three-run blast as the Reds defeated the Mets 5-3 in series opener 5-3. The Reds and the Diamondbacks both won yesterday so they are currently tied for the third wild-card spot right now. The Marlins are half a game out and the Giants are one game out. On the tanking front, the Angels stretched their losing streak to three games, keeping the Mets with the 8th worst record.
Mets Lineup
CF Brandon Nimmo
C Francisco Álvarez
1B Pete Alonso
SS Francisco Lindor
3B Ronny Mauricio
2B Jeff McNeil
DH Mark Vientos
RF DJ Stewart
LF Tim Locastro
Tylor Megill continues his 2023 campaign today with his 23rd start of the season. Over 107 1/3 innings, he has a 5.03 ERA, 5.14 FIP, 1.640 WHIP, and an 83 ERA+. In his last three starts, he has allowed only four runs from 12 hits and seven walks over 16 1/3 innings (2.20 ERA, 4.36 FIP) while striking out 16 batters. This is his best three-game stretch since his first three starts this season. Only two Reds players have seen Megill in a game before. Harrison Bader is 2-for-2 with a homer and Hunter Renfroe is 1-for-2.
Opposing Lineup
DH Jake Fraley
RF Nick Martini
2B Jonathan India
CF TJ Friedl
C Tyler Stephenson
1B Joey Votto
3B Christian Encarnacion-Strand
SS Elly De La Cruz
LF Will Benson
The Mets bats will face off against rookie Andrew Abbott. Abbott has pitched 99 innings this season with a 3.64 ERA, 4.12 FIP, 1.222 WHIP, and 127 ERA+. Abbott is coming off of a rough start against the Cardinals where he allowed six runs over four innings. Before that Abbott had a five-game stretch with a 4.07 ERA, so slightly worse than his season numbers. This will be Abbott’s first start against the Mets
Game Notes
The Mets have socked 196 home runs this season. That is tied for the fourth-most in the National League. The 2022 Mets hit 171 home runs. The team’s 196 home runs are the sixth-most in a single season in franchise history.
In 42 games since the start of August, Jeff McNeil is batting .298 (50-168) with 26 runs, seven doubles, one triple, six home runs, 18 RBI, six walks with four steals, a .335 OBP, and a .458 SLG. He has homered twice in his last five games.
In 14 games this month, the Mets have posted a .255/.328/.483 slashline with 24 doubles, three triples, 23 home runs, 66 RBI, and an .811 OPS. The Mets are 7-6 in September and have outscored their opponents 67-48.
Three Things To Watch For
- Pete Alonso. Alonso hit his 45th homer of the season, putting him in striking distance of a 50th homer of the season. Pete has been on fire recently going 6-for-18 in his last four games with two doubles and two homers (1.146 OPS).
- DJ Stewart is still racking up the hits. Stewart has been a massive surprise for the Mets in the second half of this season. Last night he went 2-for-4 with a run scored. Since September 2nd he has gone 11-for-37 at the plate with three doubles and two homers while scoring six runs. Stewart has a .955 OPS (158 OPS+) over 46 games this season.
- The back of the bullpen is ready to go. Ottavino and Raley are both well-rested if they are needed tonight. Raley hasn’t pitched since he tossed 15 pitches on Monday. Ottavino threw 17 on Tuesday. We’ve said this a few times this week, but the Mets starters all going five innings plus recently have significantly removed stress from the bullpen that was burning through pitchers a couple of weeks ago.
Let’s go Mets!
